Veteran cricketer and spin legend Shakti Gauchan has retired from cricket.

Gauchan, the longest serving member of the national cricket team, played his last match from the Pokhara Rhinos against Chitwan Tigers in the ongoing Everest Premier League (EPL). He was given a guard of honour by players from the both side.

The left-arm spinner Shakti, famously called “Shakti The Power” by Pakistani commentator Ramiz Raza during the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, brings curtain down to a stellar 17-year-old career that saw him become a household name as the country continued to take big strides in world cricket from being the minnows to a One-Day International (ODI) nation.

Tearful Gauchan waved to the crowd and embraced his teammates after the game.

Farewell to Shakti Gauchan #ThankYouShakti #ShaktiGauchan #Nepalcricket pic.twitter.com/6qzdCXQEih

— Binod Pandey (@dearbinod) December 15, 2018

National team skipper Paras Khadka and other cricketers took to Twitter to thank him for his contribution to Nepali cricket. 

Thank you Shakti Gauchan dai for your invaluable support and contribution towards helping Nepal Cricket reach where it is today ..!!!

You are a Champion ..!!!! pic.twitter.com/hvKc5AAc6p

— Paras Khadka (@paras77) December 15, 2018

Congratulation Shakti Dai on such a fantastic career & thank you for all those beautiful memories. It was great to play alongside with you for Nepal. You are true inspiration on and off the field. Wishing you great life ahead.#Unbeaten #Shakti_The_Power #ThankYouShakti Dada !! pic.twitter.com/udnN6HVZ5J

— Sandeep Lamichhane (@IamSandeep25) December 15, 2018

Gauchan made his debut for Nepal with the 2002 ACC Trophy against Oman and was the first player from the national team to score 1,000 runs having initially started his career as an opening batsman. He is the third Nepali cricketer to take 100 wickets after his contemporaries Mehboob Alam and Basanta Regmi.

Gauchan is the only Nepali cricketer to take a hat-trick in international cricket which he achieved against Denmark in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in UAE. His iconic footballer-like celebration in the UAE made him an exciting cricketer and the impressive performance earned him a call for the training camp by the Indian Premier League outfits Rajasthan Royals.